SREL Reprint #1766

Relationships between genetic variation and carcass components in wintering American wigeons

Olin E. Rhodes, Jr. and Loren M. Smith 

Department of Range and Wildlife Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, USA 

Abstract: Carcass reserves (fat and protein) were estimated for American Wigeons (Anas americana) collected in the Southern High Plains of Texas during 1 October 1988 to 15 March 1989. Wigeons also were surveyed electrophoretically for genetic variation at 25 biochemical loci. Our objective was to determine if nutrient reserves were correlated with multilocus genetic heterozygosity (H). Differences were detected in mean fat, protein and condition values of wigeons with different multilocus genetic characteristics. These differences were confounded by interactions of H, sex, age class, and/or collection period (autumn, early winter, midwinter, late winter, and early spring). The number of American Wigeons in different heterozygosity classes was not independent of sex, season or collection site on the study area. An important implication is that as the genetic structure of wigeon populations changes in time or space relative fitness of those populations may be directly affected.

SREL Reprint #1766

Rhodes, O. E., Jr. and L. M. Smith. 1993. Relationships between genetic variation and carcass components in wintering American wigeons. The Auk 110: 354-360.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).